The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-02-17
SING SING.
A Pen View OF the Celebrated
Prison on the Hudson.
Warden Brush Chats About Importan
Prisoners in His Charge.

A reporter for the Mail and Express
who went up to Sing Sing had chat
with Warden Brush about some Of his
important charges. He says ex-alderman
Jaehne is one of the best men ho ever
had for q prisoner. From the very be
ginning of his sentence he has obeyed
every rule to the letter.
fact," said the warden, Che seem
ed inxious to learn exactly what he
ought to do, and to-day he is exactly
like cock-work. His health has i'm
proved with the regular living. and
his appetite is something pleasant
to behold. He Furnishes prison fare as
if lie had been accustomed to it all his
life. That is the only way for a man to
get along in prison. He must look at the
situation from standpoint of philoso-
phcr and say to himself: ~ am here and
might aswel make the best of bad
bargain" Jaehne seems to be that sort
of man. understand that he was an
inveterate smoker of good cigars before
coming here. Sill he enjoys pipe
which we allow him in the evening with
as much gu'to as if it were q Reina.
But Ferdinand Ward, he is the most
persistent worker for trifing privileges
which VIC cannot allow him that you
ever heard of. If he wants cigar he
will try to get it, although it is against
the rules, and any keeper showing favor
in this respect would be dealt with sum-
marily. Ward will resort to all little
schemes in order to accomplish an OBJ
ject. He will not accept defeat. OF
course he is treated the same as any
other convict, but he is not will
ing to be as Jaehnc is.
Prisoners are allowed to read books and
magazines, and we have quite large
library here, but newspapers are not al
lowed. Some of the prisoners will get
them, however. A wife will send her
husband book. Well, inside the cover,
perhaps, she has concealed newspaper,
or portion of one, and when she hands it
to him at her visit, which we allow every
two months, he is ready to understand
the slightest sign from her. although a
keeper stands right by in the room with
them.
'''You would be surprised at the mem
ory' 'os an intelligent prisoner. When not
at work and not reading, they have
nothing to do bit think, and they are
ever on the alert for news from the out
side world. If convict were to pass
through this hail now for ins stance, and
hear you let drop a word, lie would be
able to guess at the whole conversation
and tell his friends about it. 1t is in
stinct. We rarely have trouble with
men of intelligence. They
readily unders tand the rules and know
that the best way to get along is to fol-
low them. 1t is the tough that usually
tries to kick over the traces, but he
never succeeds in this institution. Bud
densiek, the man who was sent here for
building mud houses, was an exception.
He was so sure that he would get out in
a little while that he tried to carry on
his business. This we could not allow.
He was always wanting to see some of
his friends about his building enter
priscs, and I have no doubt that if he
had been allowed to give orders to lis
foreman every morning as he desired his
business would have continued to pros
per. He would not put it in any one
elsc's hands until the Curt of Appeals
decided that the verdict must stand.
Now he is resigned"
While the warden was talking three
prisoners came through the doorway
from below. They were no longer
prisoners when they entered the war;
den's office. Their terms had just ox-
pired. They were dressed in clothing
cut by Fifth avenue tailor, and felt as
proud as could be. They bowed to the
Warden and walked out into the world
free men.
''It looks queer for prisoner without
money or friends to leave here with 0
hundred dollar suit on his back, but oc.
casionally they do. When man comes
here his clothing is confi,cated. 1t is
renovated and, if need be, repaired, and
hung up for future inspection. The first
prisoner discharged is entitled to pick
out any suit OF clothes he takes fancy
to. Ii there is nothing to fit him we
furnish him with new suit. There is
a man walking about New York to-day
wearing Jaehne's spring overcoat which
he had on when he came here, and some
other ex-convict selected his trousers.
Another took the Prince Albert coat aud
some one else chose the vest of the ex
alderman. They were all of the finest
quality. Money and jcwelry are alway;
returned to a prisoner at the expiration
of his term. 1t frequently happens tina
when a man is sent here the second tim,
he will bring along all his money AM
jewelry, knowing that the State is re
sponsible for them. Sing Sing is no
such bad place."